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15 <br />15.1 <br />15.2 <br />In addition to having lower life cycle costs, gravity filters have other advantages over pressure <br />filters including: <br />• Gravity filters provide for more treatment options including aeration and detention without <br />requiring another pumping step. If regulations change or the water becomes <br />contaminated, additional treatment steps can more easily be added to gravity filters. <br />• Water from the gravity filters does not go immediately into the distribution system. If <br />problems with the filters occur or if sodium permanganate is overfed (causing pink water), <br />operators have time to react and correct the problem. <br />• Gravity filters are open to view and access. This enhances the observation, operation <br />and maintenance of the filter functions and components. <br />• Gravity filtration systems have a greater amount of flexibility with less disruption during <br />normal maintenance procedures. <br />• Gravity filters could potentially be converted from groundwater to surface water in the <br />future if it became necessary. <br />A gravity filter treatment plant is the recommended alternative due to the advantages it offers at a <br />comparable construction cost and reduced life -cycle cost. <br />Funding <br />Water treatment plant projects are commonly funded using general obligation bonds or loans and <br />paid for using water rates. The following sections describe a low interest loan program and <br />example grants opportunities. Another option would be to request bonding through the State. <br />Drinking WatPr R"oIving Fund I pan <br />The Minnesota Drinking Water Revolving Fund (DWRF) loan program provides low interest loans <br />to communities that qualify. DWRF loans typically have interest rates that are lower than other <br />loans or bonds available to communities. <br />To qualify for a drinking water revolving fund loan, a proposal is written to place the project on the <br />Project Priority List (PPL). The PPL ranks projects by factors including the type of project, a <br />community's financial need, and primary contaminant exceedances. Once a City has a project <br />on the PPL and intends to proceed with construction, the project is placed on the Intended Use <br />Plan (IUP). Projects on the IUP are funded based upon their ranking. Not all projects on the IUP <br />are funded. <br />Based upon Ramsey's financial status discussed in Section 16, the DWRF program may not be <br />desirable based upon the fact that the City could likely receive a lower interest rate on its own, <br />and due to the administrative requirements and loan restrictions. <br />Grants <br />Grants are available for some water projects but are most commonly given to communities that <br />have a financial hardship. The City of Ramsey would likely not qualify. <br />One potential grant program that is not tied to financial need is the Clean Water Fund Grant <br />administered through the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. Clean Water <br />funds may only be spent to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and <br />streams and to protect groundwater from degradation. A total of $2,158,000 in grants was <br />FEASIBILITY STUDY RAMSY 154354 <br />Page 42 <br />